EP3507615B1 - Method for testing a balanced circuit - Google Patents

Method for testing a balanced circuit Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3507615B1
EP3507615B1 EP17745323.0A EP17745323A EP3507615B1 EP 3507615 B1 EP3507615 B1 EP 3507615B1 EP 17745323 A EP17745323 A EP 17745323A EP 3507615 B1 EP3507615 B1 EP 3507615B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
voltage
battery cells
control unit
battery
balancing circuit
Prior art date
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Active
Application number
EP17745323.0A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP3507615A1 (en
Inventor
Tobias HOLLWEG
Benno Schweiger
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Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
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Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
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Publication of EP3507615A1 publication Critical patent/EP3507615A1/en
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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J7/00—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
    • H02J7/0013—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially
    • H02J7/0014—Circuits for equalisation of charge between batteries
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L58/00—Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles
    • B60L58/10—Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles for monitoring or controlling batteries
    • B60L58/18—Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles for monitoring or controlling batteries of two or more battery modules
    • B60L58/22—Balancing the charge of battery modules
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
    • G01R19/00—Arrangements for measuring currents or voltages or for indicating presence or sign thereof
    • G01R19/165—Indicating that current or voltage is either above or below a predetermined value or within or outside a predetermined range of values
    • G01R19/16533—Indicating that current or voltage is either above or below a predetermined value or within or outside a predetermined range of values characterised by the application
    • G01R19/16538—Indicating that current or voltage is either above or below a predetermined value or within or outside a predetermined range of values characterised by the application in AC or DC supplies
    • G01R19/16542—Indicating that current or voltage is either above or below a predetermined value or within or outside a predetermined range of values characterised by the application in AC or DC supplies for batteries
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
    • G01R31/00—Arrangements for testing electric properties; Arrangements for locating electric faults; Arrangements for electrical testing characterised by what is being tested not provided for elsewhere
    • G01R31/36—Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]
    • G01R31/382—Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
    • G01R31/00—Arrangements for testing electric properties; Arrangements for locating electric faults; Arrangements for electrical testing characterised by what is being tested not provided for elsewhere
    • G01R31/36—Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]
    • G01R31/396—Acquisition or processing of data for testing or for monitoring individual cells or groups of cells within a battery
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J7/00—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
    • H02J7/0047—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
    • H02J7/0048—Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M10/42—Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells
    • H01M10/48—Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte
    • H01M10/482—Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/10—Energy storage using batteries
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
    • Y02T10/60—Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
    • Y02T10/70—Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method according to claim 1, a device according to claim 6 and a battery system according to claim 8, and a vehicle according to claim 9.
  • An electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle has a battery system (high-voltage storage) which comprises a plurality of batteries or battery modules connected in series and / or in parallel, each of which has at least two battery cells.
  • the discharge process of a battery that has several battery cells is stopped as soon as the weakest charged battery cell of the battery has reached its minimum voltage, since this battery cell would be damaged and destroyed if it was discharged further.
  • the charging process of a battery must be interrupted as soon as a battery cell in the battery has reached its maximum voltage. The further charging of this battery cell would lead to overcharging and thus destruction.
  • the other battery cells connected in series within the battery are likewise not further charged or discharged, although they may not yet be fully charged or discharged. For this reason, the state of charge of the entire battery is limited by the battery cell with the largest or lowest battery cell voltage. Therefore, the overall capacity of the battery can be severely affected.
  • a battery system normally has a balancing circuit which serves to measure the voltage difference between the "full” battery cell and the "empty”"Reduce battery cell.
  • the current which flows through resistors of the balancing circuit is measured according to the prior art by means of current sensors. If no current flows through the resistors after activating the balancing circuit, the balancing circuit is to be regarded as defective. Since a current sensor is required for each individual battery cell to monitor the resistances, the cost of the battery system is increased because of the additional costs of the current sensors.
  • JP 2010 271267 A , US 2014/253135 A1 and US 2011/285538 A1 show known methods to detect faults in a battery with a balancing circuit.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a simple and cost-effectively implementable method for checking a balancing circuit.
  • the object of the invention is further to provide a corresponding device for checking a balancing circuit, a battery system with such a device and a vehicle with such a battery system.
  • the control unit detects and compares the voltage states of the battery cells before and after a balancing process. If the balancing circuit functions correctly, the voltage difference between the "full" battery cell and the "empty” battery cell is reduced after the balancing process. If the voltage difference after the balancing process is not or not sufficiently reduced, the balancing circuit must therefore be regarded as defective.
  • step a) the method according to the invention has the following steps: a1) detection of a first group of voltages of the battery cells by means of the control unit; and a2) calculating a first voltage difference between a highest voltage and a lowest voltage of the first group of voltages by means of the control unit.
  • step c) the method according to the invention has the following steps: c1) detecting a second group of voltages of the battery cells; and c2) calculating a second voltage difference between a highest voltage and a lowest voltage of the second group of voltages by means of the control unit.
  • the voltages of the battery cells can preferably be measured using a voltmeter without using additional current sensors.
  • step d) the method according to the invention has the following steps: d1) calculating a difference value between the first voltage difference and the second voltage difference and comparing the difference value with a predetermined voltage value by means of the control unit; and d2) determining by means of the control unit that the balancing circuit does not work if the difference value is less than a predetermined voltage value.
  • the functionality of the balancing circuit is determined in that the balancing circuit is to be regarded as defective if the voltage difference after the balancing process is insufficient or insufficient, i.e. for example by at least a predetermined minimum voltage value or by a predetermined percentage of the original voltage difference.
  • the method comprises a further step: using the control unit to determine that the balancing circuit functions when the difference value is greater than or equal to the predetermined voltage value.
  • step c1) is carried out for a certain time after step a1).
  • the specific time is determined as a function of a time period of the voltage equalization; or the determined time is a predetermined value.
  • the duration of the voltage adjustment for example 1-10 hours after step a1) can be carried out.
  • the specific time can be predetermined by the system as, for example, 2 hours.
  • the predetermined voltage value is between 0 mV and 10 mV.
  • the present invention proposes a device for checking a balancing circuit for a battery which has a plurality of battery cells.
  • the device comprises a control unit.
  • the device detects first voltage states of the battery cells and activates the balancing circuit with the aim of achieving a voltage equalization of at least two of the battery cells, and detects second voltage states of the battery cells and determines a functionality of the balancing circuit based on the first voltage states and the second voltage states of the battery cells.
  • the device has at least one voltmeter; wherein the at least one voltmeter detects a first group of voltages of the battery cells; and wherein the control unit calculates a first voltage difference between a highest voltage and a lowest voltage of the first group of voltages.
  • the at least one voltmeter detects a second group of voltages of the battery cells; wherein the control unit calculates a second voltage difference between a highest voltage and a lowest voltage of the second group of voltages.
  • control unit calculates a difference value between the first voltage difference and the second Voltage difference and compares the difference value with a predetermined voltage value, wherein the control unit determines that the balancing circuit does not work if the difference value is less than the predetermined voltage value.
  • the predetermined voltage value D4 is between 0 mV and 10 mV.
  • the present invention proposes a battery system.
  • the battery system comprises at least one battery which has a plurality of battery cells, a balun which has the aim of achieving a voltage equalization of at least two of the battery cells, and an above-mentioned device.
  • the present invention proposes an electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle with an above-mentioned battery system.
  • control unit Since the voltages of the battery cells are already measured or monitored by the battery system for other reasons, it is advantageous that no additional component or sensor is necessary to implement the invention.
  • the function of the control unit according to the invention can be implemented in an existing control unit or an existing microcontroller. The invention thus offers a solution for checking a balancing circuit without increasing the cost of the battery system.
  • the device according to the invention does not require any further installation space in order to arrange the control unit.
  • step S1 in Fig. 1 first voltage states of the battery cells 30 are detected by means of a control unit 10.
  • Fig. 3 schematically represents a device according to the invention or the control unit 10, which the method in Fig. 1 or the procedure in Fig. 2 can implement.
  • Step S1 can preferably be carried out by step S11 and step S12 in FIG Fig. 2 be implemented.
  • a first group of voltages of the battery cells 30 are detected by means of, for example, at least one voltmeter.
  • step S12 in Fig. 2 a first voltage difference D1 between a highest voltage and a lowest voltage of the first group of voltages is calculated by means of the control unit 10.
  • the first voltage difference D1 indicates the voltage difference between two battery cells 30 of the plurality of battery cells 30 before the step of voltage equalization or the balancing of the plurality of battery cells 30.
  • the balancing circuit is activated in step S2.
  • the balancing circuit has the task of achieving a voltage adjustment of at least two of the battery cells 30.
  • the balancing circuit thus serves for "balancing" or for matching the charge states of battery cells 30 of a battery system which has at least two battery cells 30.
  • a balancing circuit is assigned to and connected to a battery cell or a battery module.
  • the balancing process comprises the following method steps: determining the battery cell voltages; Identifying a battery cell with the lowest voltage; Converting the balancing circuit of the battery cell with the lowest battery cell voltage from an active state to a sleep mode; Operating the balancing circuit in the active state, which is connected to battery cells 30, the battery cell voltages of which are in each case greater than the lowest battery cell voltage; Transfer of the balancing circuit operated in the active state into the sleep mode as soon as the respective battery cell voltage of the battery cells 30 respectively assigned to the balancing circuit in the active state is in each case equal to the lowest battery module voltage of the plurality of battery cells 30.
  • step S3 second voltage states of the battery cells 30 are detected by the control unit 10.
  • Step S3 can preferably be carried out by step S14 and step S15 in FIG Fig. 2 be implemented.
  • a second group of voltages of the battery cells 30 is detected by means of, for example, at least one voltmeter.
  • step S15 in Fig. 2 A second voltage difference D2 between a highest voltage and a lowest voltage of the second group of voltages is calculated by means of the control unit 10. The second voltage difference D2 indicates that greatest voltage difference between two battery cells 30 of the plurality of battery cells 30 after the symmetrization of the plurality of battery cells 30.
  • the second group of voltages of the battery cells 30 is detected a specific time T after the detection of the first group of voltages of the battery cells 30 or step S11 , wherein the determined time T is determined as a function of a time period of the voltage equalization or symmetrization or is a predetermined value.
  • the voltage of the battery cell which has a highest voltage before the balancing of the plurality of battery cells 30, is reduced by the balancing if the balancing circuit works. Therefore, the greatest voltage difference D2 between a highest voltage and a lowest voltage of the plurality of battery cells 30 after the balancing of the plurality of battery cells 30 is to be reduced if the balancing circuit works, i.e. the second voltage difference D2 should be smaller than the first voltage difference D1.
  • step S4 in Fig. 1 An operability of the balancing circuit is determined based on the first voltage states and the second voltage states of the battery cells 30 by means of the control unit 10.
  • Step S4 can preferably be carried out by step S16 and step S17 in FIG Fig. 2 be implemented.
  • step S16 the control unit 10 further compares the difference value D3 with a predetermined voltage value D4 and determines in step S17 that the balancing circuit does not work if the difference value D3 is smaller than a predetermined voltage value D4.
  • the predetermined voltage value D4 is set between 0 mV and 10 mV.
  • the predetermined voltage value D4 is preferably 4 mV.
  • control unit can in step S18 in Fig. 2 determine that the balun works if the difference value D3 is greater than or equal to the predetermined voltage value D4.
  • the control unit can gradually evaluate the functionality of the balancing circuit based on the difference value D3 and the predetermined voltage values or ranges, e.g. "works very well”, “sufficient”, “bad” and “broken”.
  • the existing control device or microcontroller within the battery system can serve as the control unit. This leads to no additional effort.
  • the present invention thus offers a solution for checking a balancing circuit without increasing the cost of the battery system.
  • Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a device according to the invention, which can check a balancing circuit for a battery which has a plurality of battery cells 30.
  • the device comprises a control unit 10 and a plurality of voltmeters 20, wherein the device detects first voltage states of the battery cells 30 and activates the balancing circuit (not shown) with the aim of achieving a voltage equalization of at least two of the battery cells 30 and detects second voltage states of the battery cells 30 , and an operability of the balancing circuit is determined based on the first voltage states and the second voltage states of the battery cells 30.
  • the voltmeters 20 serve to measure the voltages of the battery cells 30.
  • the control unit 10 calculates a first voltage difference D1 between a highest voltage and a lowest voltage of the battery cells 30 before the balancing step and a second voltage difference D2 between a highest voltage and a lowest voltage of the battery cells 30 after the balancing. Since the voltages of the battery cells 30 are already measured or monitored by the battery system for other reasons, the voltmeters are already present within a battery system. Therefore, no additional components are required to measure the voltages of the battery cells 30.
  • the control unit 10 calculates a difference value D3 between the first voltage difference D1 and the second voltage difference D2 and compares the difference value D3 with a predetermined voltage value D4. The control unit 10 determines that the balancing circuit does not work if the difference value D3 is less than a predetermined voltage value D4. On the other hand, the balancing circuit functions when the difference value D3 is greater than or equal to the predetermined voltage value D4.
  • the present invention thus offers a solution for checking a balancing circuit without increasing the cost of the battery system. Since no additional components have to be used, the installation space of the battery system remains unchanged.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Charge And Discharge Circuits For Batteries Or The Like (AREA)
  • Secondary Cells (AREA)

Description

Die vorliegende Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 1 eine Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 6 und ein Batteriesystem gemäß Anspruch 8, sowie ein Fahrzeug gemäß Anspruch 9.The present invention relates to a method according to claim 1, a device according to claim 6 and a battery system according to claim 8, and a vehicle according to claim 9.

Ein Elektrofahrzeug oder ein Hybridfahrzeug weist ein Batteriesystem (Hochvoltspeicher) auf, das mehrere in Reihe und/oder parallel geschaltete Batterien bzw. Batteriemodule umfasst, die jeweils mindestens zwei Batteriezellen aufweisen. Der Entladevorgang einer Batterie, die mehrere Batteriezellen aufweist, wird gestoppt, sobald die am schwächsten geladene Batteriezelle der Batterie ihre Minimalspannung erreicht hat, da diese Batteriezelle bei einer weiteren Entladung Schaden nehmen und zerstört werden würde. Gleichermaßen muss der Ladevorgang einer Batterie unterbrochen werden, sobald eine Batteriezelle der Batterie ihre Maximalspannung erreicht hat. Die weitere Aufladung dieser Batteriezelle würde zur Überladung und damit zu einer Zerstörung führen. Nach einer Unterbrechung des Ladevorgangs bzw. des Entladevorgangs werden jedoch die anderen, innerhalb der Batterie in Serie geschalteten Batteriezellen ebenfalls nicht weiter geladen bzw. entladen, obwohl sie möglicherweise noch nicht vollständig geladen bzw. entladen sind. Aus diesem Grund wird der Ladezustand der gesamten Batterie von der Batteriezelle mit der größten beziehungsweise geringsten Batteriezellspannung beschränkt. Daher kann die Gesamtkapazität der Batterie stark beeinträchtigt.An electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle has a battery system (high-voltage storage) which comprises a plurality of batteries or battery modules connected in series and / or in parallel, each of which has at least two battery cells. The discharge process of a battery that has several battery cells is stopped as soon as the weakest charged battery cell of the battery has reached its minimum voltage, since this battery cell would be damaged and destroyed if it was discharged further. Likewise, the charging process of a battery must be interrupted as soon as a battery cell in the battery has reached its maximum voltage. The further charging of this battery cell would lead to overcharging and thus destruction. After an interruption of the charging process or the discharging process, however, the other battery cells connected in series within the battery are likewise not further charged or discharged, although they may not yet be fully charged or discharged. For this reason, the state of charge of the entire battery is limited by the battery cell with the largest or lowest battery cell voltage. Therefore, the overall capacity of the battery can be severely affected.

Da der Ladevorgang einer Batterie durch die "vollste" Batteriezelle bzw. der Entladevorgang der Batterie durch die "leerste" Batteriezelle beschränkt ist, weist ein Batteriesystem normalerweise eine Symmetrierschaltung auf, die dazu dient, die Spannungsdifferenz zwischen der "vollste" Batteriezelle und der "leerste" Batteriezelle zu verringern. Um zu überprüfen, ob die Symmetrierschaltung richtig funktioniert, wird der Strom, der über Widerstände der Symmetrierschaltung abfließt, gemäß dem Stand der Technik mittels Stromsensoren gemessen. Wenn nach Aktivierung der Symmetrierschaltung kein Strom über die Widerstände fließt, ist die Symmetrierschaltung als defekt anzusehen. Da zur Überwachung der Widerstände ein Stromsensor für jede einzelne Batteriezelle benötigt ist, werden die Kosten des Batteriesystems wegen der zusätzlichen Kosten der Stromsensoren erhöht. JP 2010 271267 A , US 2014/253135 A1 und US 2011/285538 A1 zeigen bekannte Verfahren um Fehler in einer Batterie mit Symmetrierschaltung zu detektieren.Since the charging process of a battery is restricted by the "fullest" battery cell or the discharging process of the battery is limited by the "empty" battery cell, a battery system normally has a balancing circuit which serves to measure the voltage difference between the "full" battery cell and the "empty""Reduce battery cell. In order to check whether the balancing circuit is functioning correctly, the current which flows through resistors of the balancing circuit is measured according to the prior art by means of current sensors. If no current flows through the resistors after activating the balancing circuit, the balancing circuit is to be regarded as defective. Since a current sensor is required for each individual battery cell to monitor the resistances, the cost of the battery system is increased because of the additional costs of the current sensors. JP 2010 271267 A , US 2014/253135 A1 and US 2011/285538 A1 show known methods to detect faults in a battery with a balancing circuit.

Aufgabe der vorliegenden Erfindung ist es, ein einfaches und kostengünstig implementierbares Verfahren zum Überprüfen einer Symmetrierschaltung zu schaffen. Aufgabe der Erfindung ist es ferner, eine entsprechende Vorrichtung zum Überprüfen einer Symmetrierschaltung, ein Batteriesystem mit einer solchen Vorrichtung und ein Fahrzeug mit mit einem solchen Batteriesystem zu schaffen.The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and cost-effectively implementable method for checking a balancing circuit. The object of the invention is further to provide a corresponding device for checking a balancing circuit, a battery system with such a device and a vehicle with such a battery system.

Diese Aufgabe wird durch die Merkmale des Patentanspruches 1 bzw. 6 bzw. 8 bzw. 9 gelöst.This object is achieved by the features of claim 1 or 6 or 8 or 9.

Vorteilhafte Ausgestaltungen und Weiterbildungen der Erfindung sind den Unteransprüchen zu entnehmen, wobei auch Kombinationen der einzelnen Anspruchsmerkmale untereinander möglich sind.Advantageous refinements and developments of the invention can be found in the subclaims, it also being possible to combine the individual features with one another.

Offenbarung der ErfindungDisclosure of the invention

Das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren zum Überprüfen einer Symmetrierschaltung für eine Batterie, die mehrere Batteriezellen aufweist, umfasst die folgenden Schritte:

  1. a) Detektieren von ersten Spannungszuständen der Batteriezellen mittels einer Steuereinheit,
  2. b) Aktivieren der Symmetrierschaltung mit dem Ziel, eine Spannungsangleichung von mindestens zwei der Batteriezellen zu erreichen,
  3. c) Detektieren von zweiten Spannungszuständen der Batteriezellen mittels der Steuereinheit, und
  4. d) Bestimmen einer Funktionsfähigkeit der Symmetrierschaltung basierend auf den ersten Spannungszuständen und den zweiten Spannungszuständen der Batteriezellen mittels einer Steuereinheit.
The method according to the invention for checking a balancing circuit for a battery which has a plurality of battery cells comprises the following steps:
  1. a) detecting first voltage states of the battery cells by means of a control unit,
  2. b) activating the balancing circuit with the aim of achieving a voltage equalization of at least two of the battery cells,
  3. c) detecting second voltage states of the battery cells by means of the control unit, and
  4. d) determining a functionality of the balancing circuit based on the first voltage states and the second voltage states of the battery cells by means of a control unit.

Die Steuereinheit detektiert und vergleicht die Spannungszustände der Batteriezellen vor bzw. nach einem Symmetrierungsvorgang. Funktioniert die Symmetrierschaltung richtig, wird die Spannungsdifferenz zwischen der "vollsten" Batteriezelle und der "leersten" Batteriezelle nach dem Symmetrierungsvorgang verringert. Wenn die Spannungsdifferenz nach dem Symmetrierungsvorgang nicht oder nicht ausreichend verringert ist, ist die Symmetrierschaltung daher als defekt anzusehen.The control unit detects and compares the voltage states of the battery cells before and after a balancing process. If the balancing circuit functions correctly, the voltage difference between the "full" battery cell and the "empty" battery cell is reduced after the balancing process. If the voltage difference after the balancing process is not or not sufficiently reduced, the balancing circuit must therefore be regarded as defective.

Das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren weist im Schritt a) folgende Schritte auf: a1) Detektieren einer ersten Gruppe von Spannungen der Batteriezellen mittels der Steuereinheit; und a2) Berechnen einer ersten Spannungsdifferenz zwischen einer höchsten Spannung und einer niedrigsten Spannung der ersten Gruppe von Spannungen mittels der Steuereinheit.In step a), the method according to the invention has the following steps: a1) detection of a first group of voltages of the battery cells by means of the control unit; and a2) calculating a first voltage difference between a highest voltage and a lowest voltage of the first group of voltages by means of the control unit.

Das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren weist im Schritt c) folgende Schritte auf: c1) Detektieren einer zweiten Gruppe von Spannungen der Batteriezellen; und c2) Berechnen einer zweiten Spannungsdifferenz zwischen einer höchsten Spannung und einer niedrigsten Spannung der zweiten Gruppe von Spannungen mittels der Steuereinheit.In step c), the method according to the invention has the following steps: c1) detecting a second group of voltages of the battery cells; and c2) calculating a second voltage difference between a highest voltage and a lowest voltage of the second group of voltages by means of the control unit.

Vorzugsweise können die Spannungen der Batteriezellen mittels eines Voltmeters gemessen werden, ohne zusätzliche Stromsensoren zu verwenden.The voltages of the battery cells can preferably be measured using a voltmeter without using additional current sensors.

Das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren weist im Schritt d) folgende Schritte auf: d1) Berechnen eines Differenzwerts zwischen der ersten Spannungsdifferenz und der zweiten Spannungsdifferenz und Vergleichen des Differenzwerts mit einem vorbestimmten Spannungswert mittels der Steuereinheit; und d2) Bestimmen mittels der Steuereinheit, dass die Symmetrierschaltung nicht funktioniert, wenn der Differenzwert kleiner als ein vorbestimmter Spannungswert ist.In step d), the method according to the invention has the following steps: d1) calculating a difference value between the first voltage difference and the second voltage difference and comparing the difference value with a predetermined voltage value by means of the control unit; and d2) determining by means of the control unit that the balancing circuit does not work if the difference value is less than a predetermined voltage value.

Die Funktionsfähigkeit der Symmetrierschaltung ist dadurch bestimmt, dass die Symmetrierschaltung als defekt anzusehen ist, wenn die Spannungsdifferenz nach dem Symmetrierungsvorgang nicht oder nicht ausreichend, d.h. beispielsweise um mindestens einen vorgegebenen Spannungsmindestwert oder um einen vorgegebenen Prozentsatz der ursprünglichen Spannungsdifferenz, verringert ist.The functionality of the balancing circuit is determined in that the balancing circuit is to be regarded as defective if the voltage difference after the balancing process is insufficient or insufficient, i.e. for example by at least a predetermined minimum voltage value or by a predetermined percentage of the original voltage difference.

Nach einer Weiterbildung der Erfindung umfasst das Verfahren einen weiteren Schritt: Bestimmen mittels der Steuereinheit, dass die Symmetrierschaltung funktioniert, wenn der Differenzwert größer als oder gleich dem vorbestimmten Spannungswert ist.According to a development of the invention, the method comprises a further step: using the control unit to determine that the balancing circuit functions when the difference value is greater than or equal to the predetermined voltage value.

Nach einer Weiterbildung der Erfindung wird der Schritt c1) eine bestimmte Zeit nach dem Schritt a1) durchgeführt.According to a development of the invention, step c1) is carried out for a certain time after step a1).

Nach einer Weiterbildung der Erfindung wird die bestimmte Zeit in Abhängigkeit von einer Zeitdauer der Spannungsangleichung bestimmt; oder die bestimmte Zeit ist ein vorbestimmter Wert. Beispielsweise kann der Schritt c1) die Zeitdauer der Spannungsangleichung z.B. 1 - 10 Stunde nach dem Schritt a1) durchgeführt werden. Alternativ kann die bestimmte Zeit durch das System als z.B. 2 Stunden vorbestimmt werden.According to a development of the invention, the specific time is determined as a function of a time period of the voltage equalization; or the determined time is a predetermined value. For example, step c1), the duration of the voltage adjustment, for example 1-10 hours after step a1) can be carried out. Alternatively, the specific time can be predetermined by the system as, for example, 2 hours.

Nach einer Weiterbildung der Erfindung ist der vorbestimmte Spannungswert zwischen 0 mV und 10 mV.According to a development of the invention, the predetermined voltage value is between 0 mV and 10 mV.

Ferner schlägt die vorliegende Erfindung eine Vorrichtung zum Überprüfen einer Symmetrierschaltung für eine Batterie vor, die mehrere Batteriezellen aufweist. Die Vorrichtung umfasst eine Steuereinheit. Die Vorrichtung detektiert erste Spannungszustände der Batteriezellen und aktiviert die Symmetrierschaltung mit dem Ziel, eine Spannungsangleichung von mindestens zwei der Batteriezellen zu erreichen, und detektiert zweite Spannungszustände der Batteriezellen und bestimmt eine Funktionsfähigkeit der Symmetrierschaltung basierend auf den ersten Spannungszuständen und den zweiten Spannungszuständen der Batteriezellen.Furthermore, the present invention proposes a device for checking a balancing circuit for a battery which has a plurality of battery cells. The device comprises a control unit. The device detects first voltage states of the battery cells and activates the balancing circuit with the aim of achieving a voltage equalization of at least two of the battery cells, and detects second voltage states of the battery cells and determines a functionality of the balancing circuit based on the first voltage states and the second voltage states of the battery cells.

Nach der Erfindung weist die Vorrichtung mindestens ein Voltmeter auf; wobei das mindestens eine Voltmeter eine erste Gruppe von Spannungen der Batteriezellen detektiert; und wobei die Steuereinheit eine erste Spannungsdifferenz zwischen einer höchsten Spannung und einer niedrigsten Spannung der ersten Gruppe von Spannungen berechnet.According to the invention, the device has at least one voltmeter; wherein the at least one voltmeter detects a first group of voltages of the battery cells; and wherein the control unit calculates a first voltage difference between a highest voltage and a lowest voltage of the first group of voltages.

Nach der Erfindung detektiert das mindestens eine Voltmeter eine zweite Gruppe von Spannungen der Batteriezellen; wobei die Steuereinheit eine zweite Spannungsdifferenz zwischen einer höchsten Spannung und einer niedrigsten Spannung der zweiten Gruppe von Spannungen berechnet.According to the invention, the at least one voltmeter detects a second group of voltages of the battery cells; wherein the control unit calculates a second voltage difference between a highest voltage and a lowest voltage of the second group of voltages.

Nach der Erfindung berechnet die Steuereinheit einen Differenzwert zwischen der ersten Spannungsdifferenz und der zweiten Spannungsdifferenz und vergleicht den Differenzwert mit einem vorbestimmten Spannungswert, wobei die Steuereinheit bestimmt, dass die Symmetrierschaltung nicht funktioniert, wenn der Differenzwert kleiner als der vorbestimmter Spannungswert ist.According to the invention, the control unit calculates a difference value between the first voltage difference and the second Voltage difference and compares the difference value with a predetermined voltage value, wherein the control unit determines that the balancing circuit does not work if the difference value is less than the predetermined voltage value.

Nach einer Weiterbildung der Erfindung ist der vorbestimmte Spannungswert D4 zwischen 0 mV und 10 mV.According to a development of the invention, the predetermined voltage value D4 is between 0 mV and 10 mV.

Des Weiteren schlägt die vorliegende Erfindung ein Batteriesystem vor. Das Batteriesystem umfasst mindestens eine Batterie, die mehrere Batteriezellen aufweist, eine Symmetrierschaltung, die ein Ziel aufweist, eine Spannungsangleichung von mindestens zwei der Batteriezellen zu erreichen, und eine oben genannte Vorrichtung.Furthermore, the present invention proposes a battery system. The battery system comprises at least one battery which has a plurality of battery cells, a balun which has the aim of achieving a voltage equalization of at least two of the battery cells, and an above-mentioned device.

Des Weiteren schlägt die vorliegende Erfindung ein Elektrofahrzeug oder Hybridfahrzeug mit einem oben genannten Batteriesystem vor.Furthermore, the present invention proposes an electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle with an above-mentioned battery system.

Da die Spannungen der Batteriezellen bereits durch das Batteriesystem aus anderen Gründen gemessen bzw. überwacht werden, ist es vorteilhaft, dass zum Implementieren der Erfindung kein zusätzliches Bauelement bzw. Sensor notwendig ist. Außerdem kann die erfindungsgemäße Funktion der Steuereinheit in ein bestehendes Steuergerät bzw. einen bestehenden Mikrokontroller implementiert werden. Damit bietet die Erfindung eine Lösung zum Überprüfen einer Symmetrierschaltung an, ohne die Kosten des Batteriesystems zu erhöhen. Des Weiteren verlangt die erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung keinen weiteren Bauraum, um die Steuereinheit anzuordnen.Since the voltages of the battery cells are already measured or monitored by the battery system for other reasons, it is advantageous that no additional component or sensor is necessary to implement the invention. In addition, the function of the control unit according to the invention can be implemented in an existing control unit or an existing microcontroller. The invention thus offers a solution for checking a balancing circuit without increasing the cost of the battery system. Furthermore, the device according to the invention does not require any further installation space in order to arrange the control unit.

Im Folgenden wird die Erfindung im Zusammenhang mit der Zeichnung näher erläutert. Es zeigen:

Fig.1
ein Ablaufdiagramm eines Ausführungsbeispiels des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens;
Fig.2
ein weiteres Ablaufdiagramm eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens; und
Fig.3
eine schematische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels der erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung.
The invention is explained in more detail below in connection with the drawing. Show it:
Fig. 1
a flow diagram of an embodiment of the method according to the invention;
Fig. 2
another flowchart of a further embodiment of the method according to the invention; and
Fig. 3
is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the device according to the invention.

Die nachfolgend erläuterten Ausführungsbeispiele stellen bevorzugte Ausführungsformen der vorliegenden Erfindung dar.The exemplary embodiments explained below represent preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Im Schritt S1 in Fig. 1 werden erste Spannungszustände der Batteriezellen 30 mittels einer Steuereinheit 10 detektiert. Fig. 3 stellt schematisch eine erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung bzw. die Steuereinheit 10 dar, die das Verfahren in Fig. 1 bzw. das Verfahren in Fig. 2 implementieren kann.In step S1 in Fig. 1 first voltage states of the battery cells 30 are detected by means of a control unit 10. Fig. 3 schematically represents a device according to the invention or the control unit 10, which the method in Fig. 1 or the procedure in Fig. 2 can implement.

Vorzugsweise kann der Schritt S1 durch den Schritt S11 und den Schritt S12 in Fig. 2 implementiert werden. Im Schritt S11 in Fig. 2 werden eine erste Gruppe von Spannungen der Batteriezellen 30 mittels z.B. mindestens eines Voltmeters, detektiert.
Im Schritt S12 in Fig. 2 wird eine erste Spannungsdifferenz D1 zwischen einer höchsten Spannung und einer niedrigsten Spannung der ersten Gruppe von Spannungen mittels der Steuereinheit 10 berechnet. Die erste Spannungsdifferenz D1 indiziert die Spannungsdifferenz zwischen zwei Batteriezellen 30 der Vielzahl der Batteriezellen 30 vor dem Schritt der Spannungsangleichung bzw. der Symmetrierung der Vielzahl der Batteriezellen 30.Step S1 can preferably be carried out by step S11 and step S12 in FIG Fig. 2 be implemented. In step S11 in Fig. 2 a first group of voltages of the battery cells 30 are detected by means of, for example, at least one voltmeter.
In step S12 in Fig. 2 a first voltage difference D1 between a highest voltage and a lowest voltage of the first group of voltages is calculated by means of the control unit 10. The first voltage difference D1 indicates the voltage difference between two battery cells 30 of the plurality of battery cells 30 before the step of voltage equalization or the balancing of the plurality of battery cells 30.

Da die Spannungen der Batteriezellen 30 bereits durch das Batteriesystem (nicht gezeigt) aus anderen Gründen gemessen bzw. überwacht werden, werden keine zusätzlichen Bauelemente bzw. Sensoren benötigt, um die Spannungen der Batteriezellen 30 zu detektieren.Since the voltages of the battery cells 30 are already measured or monitored by the battery system (not shown) for other reasons, no additional components or sensors are required in order to detect the voltages of the battery cells 30.

Im Schritt S2 ist die Symmetrierschaltung aktiviert. Wie oben erwähnt hat die Symmetrierschaltung die Aufgabe, eine Spannungsangleichung von mindestens zwei der Batteriezellen 30 zu erreichen. Die Symmetrierschaltung dient also zum "Balancing" bzw. zur Angleichung der Ladezustände von Batteriezellen 30 eines Batteriesystems, welches mindestens zwei Batteriezellen 30 aufweist. Eine Symmetrierschaltung ist einer Batteriezelle oder einem Batteriemodul zugeordnet und mit dieser verbunden.The balancing circuit is activated in step S2. As mentioned above, the balancing circuit has the task of achieving a voltage adjustment of at least two of the battery cells 30. The balancing circuit thus serves for "balancing" or for matching the charge states of battery cells 30 of a battery system which has at least two battery cells 30. A balancing circuit is assigned to and connected to a battery cell or a battery module.

Der Symmetrierungsvorgang umfasst die folgenden Verfahrensschritte: Ermitteln der Batteriezellenspannungen; Identifizieren einer Batteriezelle mit der geringsten Spannung; Überführen der Symmetrierschaltung der Batteriezelle mit der geringsten Batteriezellspannung von einem aktiven Zustand in einen Schlafmodus; Betreiben der Symmetrierschaltung im aktiven Zustand, die mit Batteriezellen 30 verbunden ist, deren Batteriezellenspannungen jeweils größer als die geringste Batteriezellenspannung sind; Überführen von im aktiven Zustand betriebenen Symmetrierschaltung in den Schlafmodus, sobald die jeweilige Batteriezellenspannung der jeweils der Symmetrierschaltung im aktiven Zustand zugeordneten Batteriezellen 30 jeweils gleich der geringsten Batteriemodulspannung der Vielzahl der Batteriezellen 30 ist.The balancing process comprises the following method steps: determining the battery cell voltages; Identifying a battery cell with the lowest voltage; Converting the balancing circuit of the battery cell with the lowest battery cell voltage from an active state to a sleep mode; Operating the balancing circuit in the active state, which is connected to battery cells 30, the battery cell voltages of which are in each case greater than the lowest battery cell voltage; Transfer of the balancing circuit operated in the active state into the sleep mode as soon as the respective battery cell voltage of the battery cells 30 respectively assigned to the balancing circuit in the active state is in each case equal to the lowest battery module voltage of the plurality of battery cells 30.

Im Schritt S3 werden zweite Spannungszustände der Batteriezellen 30 mittels der Steuereinheit 10 detektiert.In step S3, second voltage states of the battery cells 30 are detected by the control unit 10.

Vorzugsweise kann der Schritt S3 durch den Schritt S14 und den Schritt S15 in Fig. 2 implementiert werden. Im Schritt S14 in Fig. 2 wird eine zweite Gruppe von Spannungen der Batteriezellen 30 mittels z.B. mindestens eines Voltmeters, detektiert. Im Schritt S15 in Fig. 2 ist eine zweite Spannungsdifferenz D2 zwischen einer höchsten Spannung und einer niedrigsten Spannung der zweiten Gruppe von Spannungen mittels der Steuereinheit 10 berechnet. Die zweite Spannungsdifferenz D2 indiziert die größte Spannungsdifferenz zwischen zwei Batteriezellen 30 der Vielzahl der Batteriezellen 30 nach der Symmetrierung der Vielzahl der Batteriezellen 30. Die zweite Gruppe von Spannungen der Batteriezellen 30 wird eine bestimmte Zeit T nach dem Detektieren der ersten Gruppe von Spannungen der Batteriezellen 30 bzw. dem Schritt S11 detektiert, wobei die bestimmte Zeit T in Abhängigkeit von einer Zeitdauer der Spannungsangleichung bzw. Symmetrierung bestimmt wird oder ein vorbestimmter Wert ist.Step S3 can preferably be carried out by step S14 and step S15 in FIG Fig. 2 be implemented. In step S14 in Fig. 2 a second group of voltages of the battery cells 30 is detected by means of, for example, at least one voltmeter. In step S15 in Fig. 2 A second voltage difference D2 between a highest voltage and a lowest voltage of the second group of voltages is calculated by means of the control unit 10. The second voltage difference D2 indicates that greatest voltage difference between two battery cells 30 of the plurality of battery cells 30 after the symmetrization of the plurality of battery cells 30. The second group of voltages of the battery cells 30 is detected a specific time T after the detection of the first group of voltages of the battery cells 30 or step S11 , wherein the determined time T is determined as a function of a time period of the voltage equalization or symmetrization or is a predetermined value.

Entsprechend dem Prinzip der Symmetrierung wird die Spannung der Batteriezelle, die eine höchste Spannung vor der Symmetrierung der Vielzahl der Batteriezellen 30 aufweist, durch die Symmetrierung verkleinert, wenn die Symmetrierschaltung funktioniert. Deswegen soll die größte Spannungsdifferenz D2 zwischen einer höchsten Spannung und einer niedrigsten Spannung der Vielzahl der Batteriezellen 30 nach der Symmetrierung der Vielzahl der Batteriezellen 30 verringert werden, wenn die Symmetrierschaltung funktioniert, d.h. die zweite Spannungsdifferenz D2 soll kleiner als die erste Spannungsdifferenz D1 sein.According to the principle of balancing, the voltage of the battery cell, which has a highest voltage before the balancing of the plurality of battery cells 30, is reduced by the balancing if the balancing circuit works. Therefore, the greatest voltage difference D2 between a highest voltage and a lowest voltage of the plurality of battery cells 30 after the balancing of the plurality of battery cells 30 is to be reduced if the balancing circuit works, i.e. the second voltage difference D2 should be smaller than the first voltage difference D1.

Im Schritt S4 in Fig. 1 wird eine Funktionsfähigkeit der Symmetrierschaltung basierend auf den ersten Spannungszuständen und den zweiten Spannungszuständen der Batteriezellen 30 mittels der Steuereinheit 10 bestimmt.In step S4 in Fig. 1 An operability of the balancing circuit is determined based on the first voltage states and the second voltage states of the battery cells 30 by means of the control unit 10.

Vorzugsweise kann der Schritt S4 durch den Schritt S16 und den Schritt S17 in Fig. 2 implementiert werden. Im Schritt S16 wird ein Differenzwert D3 zwischen der ersten Spannungsdifferenz D1 und der zweiten Spannungsdifferenz D2 durch die folgende Gleichung berechnet: D 3 = D 1 − D 2 .

Figure imgb0001
Step S4 can preferably be carried out by step S16 and step S17 in FIG Fig. 2 be implemented. In step S16, a difference value D3 between the first voltage difference D1 and the second voltage difference D2 is calculated by the following equation: D 3rd = D 1 - D 2nd .
Figure imgb0001

Im Schritt S16 vergleicht die Steuereinheit 10 den Differenzwert D3 ferner mit einem vorbestimmten Spannungswert D4 und bestimmt im Schritt S17, dass die Symmetrierschaltung nicht funktioniert, wenn der Differenzwert D3 kleiner als ein vorbestimmter Spannungswert D4 ist. Der vorbestimmte Spannungswert D4 ist zwischen 0 mV und 10 mV eingestellt. Vorzugsweise ist der vorbestimmte Spannungswert D4 4 mV.In step S16, the control unit 10 further compares the difference value D3 with a predetermined voltage value D4 and determines in step S17 that the balancing circuit does not work if the difference value D3 is smaller than a predetermined voltage value D4. The predetermined voltage value D4 is set between 0 mV and 10 mV. The predetermined voltage value D4 is preferably 4 mV.

Des Weiteren kann die Steuereinheit im Schritt S18 in Fig. 2 bestimmen, dass die Symmetrierschaltung funktioniert, wenn der Differenzwert D3 größer als oder gleich dem vorbestimmten Spannungswert D4 ist.Furthermore, the control unit can in step S18 in Fig. 2 determine that the balun works if the difference value D3 is greater than or equal to the predetermined voltage value D4.

Die Steuereinheit kann die Funktionsfähigkeit der Symmetrierschaltung basierend auf dem Differenzwert D3 und den vorbestimmten Spannungswerten bzw. Bereichen stufenweise bewerten, z.B. "sehr gut funktioniert", "ausreichend", "schlecht" und "defekt".The control unit can gradually evaluate the functionality of the balancing circuit based on the difference value D3 and the predetermined voltage values or ranges, e.g. "works very well", "sufficient", "bad" and "broken".

Das bestehende Steuergerät bzw. Mikrokontroller innerhalb des Batteriesystems kann als die Steuereinheit dienen. Dies führt zu keinem zusätzlichen Aufwand. Damit bietet die vorliegende Erfindung eine Lösung zum Überprüfen einer Symmetrierschaltung an, ohne die Kosten des Batteriesystems zu erhöhen.The existing control device or microcontroller within the battery system can serve as the control unit. This leads to no additional effort. The present invention thus offers a solution for checking a balancing circuit without increasing the cost of the battery system.

Fig. 3 zeigt eine schematische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung, die eine Symmetrierschaltung für eine Batterie, die mehrere Batteriezellen 30 aufweist, überprüfen kann. Die Vorrichtung umfasst eine Steuereinheit 10 und mehrere Voltmeter 20, wobei die Vorrichtung erste Spannungszustände der Batteriezellen 30 detektiert und die Symmetrierschaltung (nicht gezeigt) aktiviert mit dem Ziel, eine Spannungsangleichung von mindestens zwei der Batteriezellen 30 zu erreichen, und zweite Spannungszustände der Batteriezellen 30 detektiert, und eine Funktionsfähigkeit der Symmetrierschaltung basierend auf den ersten Spannungszuständen und den zweiten Spannungszuständen der Batteriezellen 30 bestimmt. Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a device according to the invention, which can check a balancing circuit for a battery which has a plurality of battery cells 30. The device comprises a control unit 10 and a plurality of voltmeters 20, wherein the device detects first voltage states of the battery cells 30 and activates the balancing circuit (not shown) with the aim of achieving a voltage equalization of at least two of the battery cells 30 and detects second voltage states of the battery cells 30 , and an operability of the balancing circuit is determined based on the first voltage states and the second voltage states of the battery cells 30.

Die Voltmeter 20 dienen dazu, die Spannungen der Batteriezellen 30 zu messen. Die Steuereinheit 10 berechnet eine erste Spannungsdifferenz D1 zwischen einer höchsten Spannung und einer niedrigsten Spannung der Batteriezellen 30 vor dem Schritt der Symmetrierung und eine zweite Spannungsdifferenz D2 zwischen einer höchsten Spannung und einer niedrigsten Spannung der Batteriezellen 30 nach der Symmetrierung. Da die Spannungen der Batteriezellen 30 bereits durch das Batteriesystem aus anderen Gründen gemessen bzw. überwacht werden, sind die Voltmeter innerhalb eines Batteriesystems bereits vorhanden. Daher sind keine zusätzlichen Bauelemente benötigt, um die Spannungen der Batteriezellen 30 zu messen.The voltmeters 20 serve to measure the voltages of the battery cells 30. The control unit 10 calculates a first voltage difference D1 between a highest voltage and a lowest voltage of the battery cells 30 before the balancing step and a second voltage difference D2 between a highest voltage and a lowest voltage of the battery cells 30 after the balancing. Since the voltages of the battery cells 30 are already measured or monitored by the battery system for other reasons, the voltmeters are already present within a battery system. Therefore, no additional components are required to measure the voltages of the battery cells 30.

Die Steuereinheit 10 berechnet einen Differenzwert D3 zwischen der ersten Spannungsdifferenz D1 und der zweiten Spannungsdifferenz D2 und vergleicht den Differenzwert D3 mit einem vorbestimmten Spannungswert D4. Die Steuereinheit 10 bestimmt, dass die Symmetrierschaltung nicht funktioniert, wenn der Differenzwert D3 kleiner als ein vorbestimmter Spannungswert D4 ist. Andererseits funktioniert die Symmetrierschaltung, wenn der Differenzwert D3 größer als oder gleich dem vorbestimmten Spannungswert D4 ist.The control unit 10 calculates a difference value D3 between the first voltage difference D1 and the second voltage difference D2 and compares the difference value D3 with a predetermined voltage value D4. The control unit 10 determines that the balancing circuit does not work if the difference value D3 is less than a predetermined voltage value D4. On the other hand, the balancing circuit functions when the difference value D3 is greater than or equal to the predetermined voltage value D4.

Ein bereits vorhandenes Steuergerät bzw. ein bereits vorhandener Mikrokontroller des Batteriesystems kann als die Steuereinheit dienen. Daher führt dies zu keinem zusätzlichen Aufwand. Damit bietet die vorliegende Erfindung eine Lösung zum Überprüfen einer Symmetrierschaltung an, ohne die Kosten des Batteriesystems zu erhöhen. Da keine zusätzlichen Bauelemente eingesetzt werden müssen, bleibt der Bauraum des Batteriesystems unverändert.An already existing control unit or an already existing microcontroller of the battery system can serve as the control unit. Therefore, there is no additional effort. The present invention thus offers a solution for checking a balancing circuit without increasing the cost of the battery system. Since no additional components have to be used, the installation space of the battery system remains unchanged.

Claims (9)

  1. A method for testing a balancing circuit for a battery that has a plurality of battery cells, the method comprising the steps of:
    a) detecting (S1) first voltage states of the battery cells by means of a control unit (10) ;
    b) activating (S2) the balancing circuit with the objective of achieving voltage equalisation of at least two of the battery cells;
    c) detecting (S3) second voltage states of the battery cells by means of the control unit (10); and
    d) determining (S4) a functional capability of the balancing circuit on the basis of the first voltage states and the second voltage states of the battery cells, by means of the control unit (10);
    wherein step a) comprises:
    a1) detecting (S11) a first group of voltages of the battery cells; and
    a2) calculating (S12) a first voltage difference (D1) between a highest voltage and a lowest voltage of the first group of voltages by means of the control unit (10);
    wherein step c) comprises the steps of:
    c1) detecting (S14) a second group of voltages of the battery cells; and
    c2) calculating (S15) a second voltage difference (D2) between a highest voltage and a lowest voltage of the second group of voltages by means of the control unit (10); and
    wherein step d) comprises the steps of:
    d1) calculating (S16) a difference value (D3) between the first voltage difference (D1) and the second voltage difference (D2) and comparing (S16) the difference value (D3) with a predetermined voltage value (D4) by means of the control unit (10); and
    d2) determining (S17), by means of the control unit (10), that the balancing circuit is not working if the difference value (D3) is smaller than a predetermined voltage value (D4) .
  2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of:
    determining (S18), by means of the control unit (10), that the balancing circuit is working if the difference value (D3) is greater than or equal to the predetermined voltage value (D4).
  3. A method according to one of claims 1 to 2, wherein step c1) is performed a specific time (T) after step a1).
  4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the specific time (T) is determined depending on a duration of the voltage equalisation; or wherein the specific time (T) is a predetermined value.
  5. A method according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the predetermined voltage value (D4) is between 0 mV and 10 mV.
  6. A device for testing a balancing circuit for a battery that has a plurality of battery cells, comprising a control unit (10); wherein
    the device is configured
    - to detect first voltage states of the battery cells
    - to activate the balancing circuit with the objective of achieving voltage equalisation of at least two of the battery cells,
    - to detect second voltage states of the battery cells, and
    - to determine a functional capability of the balancing circuit on the basis of the first voltage states and the second voltage states of the battery cells,
    the device comprising at least one voltmeter (20) ;
    the at least one voltmeter (20) being configured to detect a first group of voltages of the battery cells; and
    the control unit (10) being configured to calculate a first voltage difference (D1) between a highest voltage and a lowest voltage of the first group of voltages;
    the at least one voltmeter (20) being configured to detect a second group of voltages of the battery cells, and
    the control unit (10) being configured to calculate a second voltage difference (D2) between a highest voltage and a lowest voltage of the second group of voltages; and
    the control unit (10) being configured to calculate a difference value (D3) between the first voltage difference (D1) and the second voltage difference (D2) and to compare the difference value (D3) with a predetermined voltage value (D4); and
    the control unit (10) being configured to determine that the balancing circuit is not working if the difference value (D3) is smaller than the predetermined voltage value (D4) .
  7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined voltage value (D4) is between 0 mV and 10 mV.
  8. A battery system comprising at least one battery, which has a plurality of battery cells, and a balancing circuit of which the purpose is to achieve voltage equalisation of at least two of the battery cells,
    characterised in that the battery system comprises a device according to one of claims 6 to 7.
  9. An electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle comprising a battery system according to claim 8.
EP17745323.0A 2016-09-05 2017-07-27 Method for testing a balanced circuit Active EP3507615B1 (en)

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JP2010271267A (en) * 2009-05-25 2010-12-02 Mitsubishi Motors Corp Battery monitoring device
CN101740827B (en) * 2009-12-25 2015-07-01 奇瑞汽车股份有限公司 Active equalization system of lithium-ion power battery and equalization method thereof
KR101256952B1 (en) 2010-03-05 2013-04-25 주식회사 엘지화학 Apparatus and Method for diagnosis of cell balancing unit
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CN109313237A (en) 2019-02-05
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US10770906B2 (en) 2020-09-08
CN109313237B (en) 2020-12-01

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